Q: How can I get help during my travel?
A: We would say that the vast majority of tours are trouble free. If you do encounter any problems, they can be easily and quickly resolved on the ground by following the following steps.
1. Local Guide
If you have a local guide, speak to them about the problem. They are authorized to deal with most situations and we would far prefer you to sort out any problems with them on the spot than allow them to spoil your holiday.
2. TCT office
If the guide is unable to assist or is the source of your concern, please contact us directly. You can phone, email, or fax us, and we will do all we can to help you. If you send a fax please make sure your contact details are in large letters because interference on the telephone line can result in the fax being unclear when it is received.
Name of our company: Top China Tour (Formerly CCITC)
Name of contact: Mr Nathan Zhang
Office telephone: 0086 010 5618 2566
Office Fax: 0086 010 6580 4282
Email: znn@topchinatour.com
Emergency telephone: 0086 139 1081 6294 (Nathan)

Q: What time can I contact TCT?
A: You can contact us 24 hours a day. But it is best if you can call us within our office hours, which are 10:00~19:00 (Beijing Time), because we are best equipped to deal with the situation. However, emergencies do occur outside of these hours, therefore you can call the emergency number.

Q: How do I make an emergency call?
A: The emergency number will be answered by a messaging service and you should leave the following information: your name, the lead name on the booking if it is different, your contact telephone details, when you will be available for us to call and an overview of the problem. Then, our duty manager will call you back.

Q: What safety items should I consider?
A: Your safety is our primary concern. Please familiarise yourself with the fire evacuation procedure and the location of the nearest fire exits in your accommodation. If you have questions or concerns with any safety aspect of your trip, including the vehicles, please contact the accommodation management or our local agent at the earliest opportunity.

Q: Should I pay again for departure tax?
A: In China, all departure tax is included in the cost of the flight ticket, so there is no need to pay again for it.

Q: What should I do with the travel insurance?
A: You have to contact the insurance company for any necessary insurance youself.

Q: What is the request of time validity for my passport?
A: Your passport should be valid for six months beyond the date of return from your trip, this is a usual regulation for international travel industry.

Q: What should I do with a travel visa?
A: A visa is required by all visitors to China. You should apply for it at least one month before departure. Please note that your passport must be valid for six months from the day of departure from China.

Q: What is an E-ticket?
A: For some airlines and routes, E-tichet has replaced the traditional paper ticket. If you have an E-ticket, simply take your passport and the airline reference number to the check-in desk and the staff will locate your booking on their system. You will be issued with a boarding pass as usual.

Q: Why should I take an E-ticket?
A: E-tickets have been intorduced for your added convenience as there can be no penalty for mislaid documentation and there is no need to wait for travel documentation to arrive, making last-minute bookings easier to organise.

Q: What is the flight check-in time?
A: For international flight, please check-in at least two hours prior to departure and also double check the flight times on your tickets before departure as some timings may have changed. For domestic flights, we usually advise the clients to check-in one hour before the departure. For both domestic and international flights issued locally, our ground agent will normally reconfirm any flights for you.

Q: How do I cancel my flights?
A: During your trip, should you be unable to make a flight for any reason, please ensure that you make us or our ground agents aware. In most cases, if the airline is not provided with forewarning it will result in the cancellation of other flights with the same airline later in your itinerary.

Q: What is the luggage allowance?
A: Please be aware that there may be significant difference on the luggage allowance between your international flights and your internal flights, particularly if you fly in a premium cabin internatiuonally and economy class internally. Typically, international flights allow 20 kilogrammes of baggage in economy and 30 kilogrammes in business class or first class. Flights that operate via North America use the piece system and offer an allowance of two pieces of luggage with a weights restriction per bag of 20 kilogrammes in economy and 30 kilogrammes in business or first class. If your international flights have been issued on a paper ticket then your luggagte allowance can be seen on this ticket.

Q: What is the hand luggage restriction?
A: Due to the ongoing changes in security internationally, we strongly recommend you check with the airline websites for up to date information regarding hand luggage restrictions.

Q: What is climate like in China?
A: China covers a great range of latitudes and hence displays a great diversity of climates. The northeast experiences hot, dry summers and bitterly cold winters. The central region has precipitation spread throughout the year, hot summers and cold winters. The south varies between the sub-tropical southwest on the border of Burma and Laos, and the southeast region which has substantial rainfall, with semi-tropical summers and cool winters.

Q: How many languages in China?
A: The official language in China is Mandarin Chinese. Among the enormous number of local dialects, large groups speak Cantonese, Fukienese, Xiamenhua, and Hakka. Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang, which are autonomous regions, have their own languages.

Q: How is the tipping custom in China?
A: In general, tipping is not so much expected in China as in the western world. However, in the international hotels operate on more westernised principles, small sums of one US dollar or 5 yuan for bell boys, waiter in restaurants, and cleaning staff is the norm. Tipping does constitute a recognised part of your guide and drivers income, and we recommend in the region of USD 5 per person per day for your guide and half that for the driver. This is, of course, discretionary.

Q: How is the electricity in China?
A: The electricity in China is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin sockets (a few have three-pin sockets) are in use. We recommend you take an international socket adapter.

Q: What should I pay attention to for drinks and food?
A: When you are travelling in China, do not dringk tap water and eat freshly cooked meat and fish, preferably hot. If you want to select restaurants yourself, it's better to avoid salads and hotel buffets.

Q: Can you tell me some information about Chinese money?
A: The currency of China is the Renminbi (RMB), more commonly known as the yuan. 1 Yuan = 10 Jiao or 100 fen. Notes are in the denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5, 2, and 1 yuan, as well as 5, 2, and 1 jiao. Coins are in denominations of 1 yuan and 5, 2, and 1 jiao. Most hotels would have a screen in the lobby to display the currency exchange rates between RMB and world major currencies, and exchange service is also provided there.

Q: What are the main public holidays and festivals in China?
A: January 1 is a national holiday, while Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) falls during January or February, depending on the Lunar Calendar, May 1 is Labour Day and Oct 1 is the National Day. Some minority nationalities have retained their own tradtional festivals, including the Water Splashing Festival of the Dai nationality, and the Tibetan New Year.

Q: How do I calculate the Chinese local time?
A: The Chinese local time is GMT plus 8 hours. Despite the vast size of the country, Beijing time is the only standard throughout China.

Q: What ethical and social issues should I pay attention to?
A: Conservative casual wear is generally acceptable everywhere, but revealing clothes should be avoided since they may cause offence. Do not take pictures of people without asking permission. Photography is not allowed in some places, such as airport, significant temple buildings, and government buildings.

Q: Can you tell me the brief history of China?
A: China has one of the longest unbroken histories in the world. Many dynasties have existed in this country. In the 13th century, the Mongols under Genghis Khan overran Asia, and it was during this time that Marco Polo visited China. The Chinese rule was reestablished by the Ming Dynasty, which rebuilt the Great Wall to prevent further incursions from the North. Modern Chinese history begins in 1840 with the Opium Wars, when Britain and other European powers imposed their will upon the ailing Qing Dynasty, which eventually fell in 1911. Many civil wars broke out, and in 1949, the Chinese Communists under Mao Zedong established New China - the People's Republic of China.china travel china tour